Apparatus for transferring bulk granular material



Jan. 15, 1963 M. c. ADDICKS 3,073,463

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING BULK GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Nov. 23, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 15, 1963 M. c. ADDICKS 3,073,453

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING BULK GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Nov. 23, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 k M I66 80 192 3,073,463 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING BULK GRANULAR MATERIAL Fi led Nov. 25, 1956 Jan. 15, 1963 M. c. ADDICKS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. li feypbr C. fla a l'as fl/fame s Jan. 15, 1963 M. c. ADDICKS APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING BULK GRANULAR MATERIAL 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllll Filed NOV. 25, 1956 Jan. 15, 1963 M. c. ADDICKS 3,073,453

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING BULK GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Nov. 25, 1956 a Sheets-Sheet 5 a m & a P9, m n (A j x 0 a :3: J is} R w w #wewroe:

Jan. 15, 1963 M. c. ADDICKS APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING BULK GRANULAR MATERIAL 8 SheetsSheet 6 Filed Nov. 23, 1956 mvw RWN m NW VmN MMN 6N Jan. 15, 1963 M. c. ADDICKS. 3,073,463

APPARATUS-FOR TRANSFERRING BULK cahmm MATERIAL Filed Nov. 2a, 1 56 a sheets sheet 7 g Yam" w /N VENTOE: Men/0r C floaicks Unite 1' States atent 3,073,463 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING BULK GRANULAR MATERIAL Mentor C. Addicks, 5107 Arden Ave., Minneapolis 24, Minn.

Filed Nov. 23, 1956, Ser. No. 624,031 Claims. (Cl. 214-44) This invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for transferring bulk granular material. In general, the invention is concerned with the rapid transfer of bulk aggregate materials from a container, and particularly where the container may be of substantial size, and access or entry to its interior is relatively difficult. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the unloading of granular material such as grain or the like 1 relatively fine materials, the normal openings are additionally sealed by means of temporary bulkheads, commonly referred to as grain doors, composed of boards laterally secured to each other, or by a large single sheet of tough fiberboard. The bulkhead is normally secured to the inner walls of the car at the opposite sides of the normal openings and form a grain-tight seal that must be removed before the car can be unloaded.

The removal of the sealing bulkhead from the normal car door openinghas always been a substantial problem in unloading cars, because the bulkhead forms a lateral support about the door opening and is pressed in the direction of the door opening by a substantial mass of the granular material that would normally flow out of the opening when the bulkhead is removed. In the past, the bulkhead has been removed by a prying operation which was time consuming and also left portions or fragments of the bulkhead in the car, requiring a certain amount of manual labor for removal.

After removal of the bulkhead, the remainder of the car is emptied by a shoveling operation. In the distant past, this was done by manual labor, but more recently shoveling machines have been developed to remove the granular material. In my prior patents, Re. 24,122 and 2,705,126 and Re. 24,201 and in my co-pending application Ser. No. 448,696, now Patent No. 2,924,675, I have disclosed several forms of shoveling machines used for unloading grain and the like from railway freight cars. It is contemplated using one or more forms of such apparatus in conjunction with the apparatus disclosed herein so as to make the entire operation more or less automatic. However, in my prior disclosures relating to shoveling machines, it has always been necessary for an operator to crawl into the car on top of the product therein and secured to the walls or ends of the car one or more sheaves or pulleys about which a cable is journaled for movement in supporting a portion of the unloading apparatus. This prior arrangement is time con? suming, both in locating and periodically moving the cable supporting pulleys at difierent places within the 2. operation may be conducted according to the present invention by the supervision of a single operator carrying a portable control device by which he may easily supervise the several operations from the exterior of the car or other container.

One portion of the apparatus disclosed herein constitutes a bulkhead remover. This portion of the apparatus could conceivably be used without the remainder and consists of one or a pair of members supported for pivotal movement at one side of the freight car and which is moved inwardly against the lower extremity of the bulkhead to grip the same and move the bulkhead upwardly and thence inwardly within the interior of the car where it is temporarily held above the product until .the car is emptied, to permit the granular material to flow by gravity through the opening thus formed into a receiving pit located beneath the railway car.

After the bulkhead has been removed by the first portion of the apparatus, a second portion, which could conceivably work without the bulkhead removing portion, but which in this disclosure is supported by a par-t of the bulkhead removing apparatus so as to be projected into the interior of the car coincident with the removal of the bulkhead. The second portion of the apparatus acts as a support for one or more pulleys used to journal the cables of a third apparatus that performs the actual unloading.

The supports for the cable pulleys consists of one or more.

extensible telescopic bars Whose outer ends carry the pul leys over which the cable operates. The extensible bars are carried by a carriage that is also capable of moving further into the car door opening after the bulkhead has been removed. The combination of the carriage and the extensible bars then act to extend each of the cable supporting pulleys for movement in an arcuate manner from adjacent the car door opening towards the ends of the car so that the shovels are permitted to'progressively workback into the pile of material and eventually transfer all of this material through the car door opening into the receiving pit.

The movement of the carriage and of the extensible bars may be controlled so that the shovels initially start to work in close proximity to the door openings and then progressively move in an arc to the opposite ends of the car. To accomplish the progressive movement of the carriage and the bars, and to progressively increase 'the stroke of the shovels, thecontrols of the extensible bar apparatus are combined ina circuitwith the controls of the shovel operating apparatus,

When the extensible bars are eventually extending at a angle from the carriage, the contents of the car have been removed except for a residual amount onthe floor, and therefore, the extreme movement of the carriage or the positioning of the bars at a 90 angle with the carriage activates a circuit to permit tilting the railway car so as to cause the residual amount of product to flow to one side of the car, whence this portion may be removed by the final strokes of the shovels. I

When the caris emptied of all of its cargo, the extensible bars are retracted and the carriage is returned, when the bulkhead removing memberdeposits the elements of the bulkhead within the car and returns to a normal inactive position where it is stowed exterior to the car, and the empty car can be removed and replaced by the next loaded car.

An' object of the invention is to provide a rapid and economic means of unloading grain or similar granular aggregate from a freight car by rupturing the temporary bulkhead that normally seals the car door opening adjacent the base of the bulkhead to permit a substantial portion of the aggregate held in restraint by the bulkhead to spill by gravity out of the car, and thereafter progressively remove the remainder of the aggregate from the car with- Patented Jan. 15, 1963" out the necessity of personnel entering the interior of the car.

Another object is to provide a rapid and economic method of transferring bulk aggregate from the relatively inaccessible interior portion of a large container without the necessity of personnel entering the container or enclosed storage area.

Another object -is to provide a means of rapidly unloading granular material from within the interior of a large container by supporting a portion of a transfer mechanism within the interior of the container above the level of the granular material therein, and progressively moving the transfer mechanism above the limits of the granular material into the relatively inaccessible portions of the interior of the container.

Another object is to provide apparatus for transferring granular material from the interior of an enclosed storage space embodying an extensible member, the outer end of which forms a support for a portion of a transferring mechanism that may be progressively extended to different portions of the interior of the container above the limits of the material in the container to permit a progressive transfer or removal of the material from the interior of the container.

Another object is to provide a combined apparatus for opening the temporary bulkhead of a railway freight car containing a loose mass of aggregate, and thereafter progressively remove the aggregate from the interior of the car.

Another object is to provide in combination with a shoveling machine embodying a cable operated shovel, an apparatus for removing a temporary bulkhead in a railway car, and which also includes an extensible member supported by the bulkhead removing member, said latter member forming a support for the cable and arranged to progressively movethe cable and shovel in an arcuate manner to different parts of the interior of the car to systematically shovel the contents of the car through the opening formerly closed by the bulkhead.

Another object is to provide apparatus for removing an aggregate from within the interior of a large container embodying a traveling carriage which is supported exterior of the container for entry therein, and an extensible member supported by the carriage capable of extending to the remote inner extremities of the container and adapted to support a portion of a bulk transferring mechanism used to remove the aggregate material from within the container.

Another object is to provide a system for properly controlling the combined actions of a progressively extensible supporting member and a cable operated shovel which is extensibly moved by the supporting member, wherein the shovel stroke is increased proportionate to the extension of the supporting member.

A further object is to provide apparatus for removing the temporary bulkhead from a railway freight car door opening containing bulk aggregate, removing the contents of the car, and providing control of the various operations through a control system operable by a single operator from a position exterior of the car.

Other and further objects may become apparent from the following specification and claims, and in the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the apparatus forming the present invention, showed in a stowed relationship with respect to a railway freight car containing a mass of aggregate, such as grain;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, show the progressive steps of removing a temporary bulkhead sealing the normal car door opening;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a combined car door opener and apparatus used in aiding the removal of granular material from within the interior of the car, with certain parts broken away;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation, with parts broken away of the structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation taken on the lines 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail taken on the lines 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of part of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are fragmentary side elevations of the car door gripping means disclosed in FIGS. 16, and 9, and showing the parts in two different positions;

FIG. 11 is an elevation of a closed hydraulic system used to control a portion'of the mechanism disclosed in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation with parts broken away and others shown in section of one of the extensible telescoping bars disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 13 is a right end elevation taken on the lines 1313 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a left end elevation taken on the lines 1414 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a portion of the traveling carriage seen on the right hand side of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 16 is an elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a detail elevation of some of the pneumatic conduits and controls of mechanism located in rear of the travelling carriage;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a shoveling machine which is used in combination with the carriage and extensible bars disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view taken on the lines 19-19 of FIG. 18 and disclosing a control device which ties in the operation of the extensible bars with a portion of the machine;

FIG. 20 is a plan view with portions broken away showing the cable winding drums that are used for extending and retracting the extensible telescopic bars disclosed in FIGS. 5, 6, and 12;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram disclosing the progressive movement of one of the extensible bars of FIG. 5 and mechanism carried by the bar during the operation of the unloading of granular material from a freight car;

FIG. 22 discloses a modification of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, used when a railway freight car is tilted to remove residual materials;

FIG. 23 is a side elevation taken on the lines 2323 of FIG. 22, disclosing an underground receiving pit; and,

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of an electrical control system for operating the combined door opener, travelling carrage, extensible bars, and the shoveling machine disclosed in this application.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the invention will be described in detail.

Referring first to FIGS. l-4, reference character 30 indicates a conventional railway freight car used for the transportation of grain and similar aggregates which is supported by truck 32 on railway tracks indicated at 34. Car 30 is provided with a door opening 36 normally closed by sliding doors, not shown. A temporary bulkhead 38 which may consist of groups of boards commonly referred to as grain doors or a single sheet of tough fibrous material is secured on the inner side of the normal door opening 36 to prevent the loss of grain or other fine aggregate materials carried within the car. It is customary to remove the bulkhead 38 and permit a portion of the aggregate to fiow by gravity to a receiving pit, see FIG. 23, located beneath the tracks 34, and thereafter to remove the remainder of the cargo by a shoveling operation or the like.

Situated at one side of the car and in approximate elevation with the base of the normal door opening 36 is an access platform 40. Disposed on either side of the platform is a pair of parallel vertical supporting beams, one of which is indicated at 42. A pair of parallel horizontal I beams, one of which is indicated at 44, are secured to the upper limits of the beams 42. Also disposed on opposite sides of the platform 46 are a pair of parallel tubular supports 46, whose upper ends are secured at 48 to the forward ends of the horizontal beams 44. Supported by the tubular supports 46, and indicated by general ref- 7 Each of these plates is provided with an elongated slot erence numeral 50, is apparatus for rupturing or removing the bulkhead 38, and thereafter supporting and aiding in the movement of other means for removing the granular material from the car 30.

Having reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 9, the apparatus 50 consists of two cooperating portions that will be individually described. Reference characters 52 and S4 indicate a pair of heavy beams that constitute the sides of a more or less rectangular frame. As shown in FIG. 16, members 52, 54 each consist of a pair of I beams joined on their edges to form center supports 56,58. At their forward ends, the members 52, 54 are each formed into an open jaw structure composed of an upper jaw portion 60 and a lower jaw portion 62. A tubular cross-member 64 joins the outer ends of the upper jaw portions 60 and a tubular cross-member 66 joins the outer ends of the lower jaw portions 62. At their rear ends, the members 52, 54 are interconnected by a pair of channel beams to form a hollow rectangular support 68. Extending transversely between the centers'of the upper edges of members 52, 54, is a triangular-shaped bracing member 70 that is provided on its opposite ends with appertured brackets 72, 74.

As disclosed in FIGS. 1-4, a pair of parallel telescoping hydraulic jacks, one of which is indicated at 76, extends between a pair of brace bars 78 and brackets 80, located on the lower surface of beams 52, 54.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the tubular support 46 is disclosed as a pair of relatively heavy pipes indicated at 46 and 46a. Each of the tubular supports has rigidly'secured thereto upper limiting rings 82, and lower limiting rings of which only one is indicated at 84. A transverse supporting member, consisting of a tubular cross-member 86, which has integrally connected to its opposite ends, tubular portions 88, 90 that embrace the tubular supports 46, 46a, and are provided with a multiplicity of roller elements 92 that engage the tubular members 46, 46a, so as to provide movement for member 86 relative thereto. The cross-member 86 carries a pair of depending brackets 94, 96, that form supporting connections for the brackets 72, 74, on the cross-member 7t) seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, to permit pivotal movement of the structure 50 on the tubular structure 46.

Having reference to FIG. 11, taken in conjunction with FIG. 7, depending from each of the collars 88 and 90, are piston rods 98, 109, which extend to pistons, not disclosed, within a pair of cylinders 102, 104, each of which are pivotally mounted onto the tubular supports 46, 46a, as disclosed by a bracket 106, seen'in FIG. 7. Interconnecting the two cylinders 102, 104, above the limit of movement of the pistons therein is a conduit 108, and a similar conduit 110, interconnects the two cylinders below the lower limit of the movement of the pistons therein. The conduits 168, 110 are interconnected by a conduit 112 containing a flow regulating valve 114. The arrangement just described is intended to provide a closed hydraulicsystem by which the cross-member 86 and all parts associated therewith, including the mechanism 50, will rise slowly on the tubular supports 46, 46a, under influence of the hydraulic jacks 7 6, and which will permit the mechanism to quickly descend on the tubular supports.

Having reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 9', and A, 10B, is disclosed a mechanismfor gripping the bulkhead 38 and aiding in its removal from the door opening 36. As disclosed in FIG. 9, a metal layer indicated at 116 extends across the upper forward surface of the upper jaw structure 60. Disposed on the opposite lateral sides of surface 116 and on the upper edges of each of the jaws 60 are the bulkhead gripping mechanisms, consisting of a pair of parallel triangularly shaped plates 118, 120.

122. Between the plates 118, 120, is a grab bar 124 having a multiplicity of teeth 126 on the outer edge thereof. Bar 124 is provided with a pin 128 that rides in the slots 122 formed in plates 118, 120. Adjacent pin 128, bar 124 is formed with a right angular portion 130. A bell crank member 132 formed with a right angular por- -tion 134 is pivotally. mounted at 136 between plates 118 and 120. The bell crank 132 carries a roller 138 on its outer end. A rod 140 is pivotally joined to hell crank 132 at 142, and is also pivotally connected between members 113, 120 at 144, and carries a compression spring 146.

A travelling carriage and telescoping mechanism constitutes a second portion of the device indicated by general reference character 51 which will now be described. Having reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 15 and 16, reference character 148 indicates a carriage which extends between the members 52, 54. At its lateral extremities, carriage 148 has secured thereto two pairs of interconnected rollers 15%, 152, that ride on the upper edges of a pair of tracks 154, 156, secured to the upper surfaces of the interconnecting ledges 56, 58. At the left side of FIG. 16 is disclosed a pair of rollers 158 that engage the inner lateral surface of member 54, and on the right of FIG. 16 is disclosed a pair of rollers 160* that engage the lower surface of ledge 56.

A large threaded rod 162, constituting the carriage driving member, is journaled on its front end in a collar structure 164 carried by a heavy bracing member 166 that extends between the upper and lower jaw members 611, 62. In rear of member 166, rod 162 carries a collar 168 which with the collar 164 forms a journal for the front end of rod 162. As disclosed in FIG. 6, rod 162 penetrates the carriage 148, and also penetrates a travelling nut 176 secured to carriage 148 to provide for movement of the carriage. Adjacent its rear end, rod 162 is journaled on opposite sides of the hollow brace 68 and is connected on its rear end to a sprocket 172. A chain 174- connects sprocket 172 to a sprocket 176'on a motor 178.

On its forward end, as seen in FIG. 15, the carriage 148 carries a bracket 180. A pair of extensible telescopic members indicated at 182, 184, are pivotally mounted by means of a projection 186, seen in FIG. 12, to the bracket 180. The forward end of the extensible members 182, 184, are journaled in large bearings 188, 191), that are pivotally supported for rotatable movement at 192 in each of the lower jaws 62 on the forward extensions of members 52, 54.

Referring now to FIGS. l214, the extensible telescopic structure will. be described. Reference character 194 indicates an outer tubular member which is closed at its rear end by a cylinder 196 that supports the projection 186. Within the axis of tubular member 194 is a center tube 198 which on its outer end supports a sheave 200. Between members 194, and 198, is an intermediate tubular member 202. As seen at the left of FIG. 12, and better disclosed in FIG. 14, each of the inner tubes 198, 292, carries a multiplicity of roller elements 204 supported on angular brackets 206 to give friction-free movement with respect the 'circumscribing tubular members. As disclosed on the left hand side of FIG. 12, and seen better in FIG. 13, the outer tubular member 194 carries two roller elements 208, suitably journaled by member 194 to form friction-free movement for the intermediate tube 202. Another set of these rollers, one indicated by reference character 210 provides friction-free movement between the intermediate tube 202 and the center tube 198.

To provide for the extension of the several tubular elements, member 194- carries a pulley 212 over which is trained a cable 214 that extends inwardly within the periphery ofmember 194 and is joined to the intermediate tube at 216. The intnerrnediate tube 202 carries a pulley 218 over which is trained a cable 220 that extends 7 between a non-rotatable portion of pulley 212 and the inner end of the center tube 198 as indicated by reference character 222.

Cable 214 is used to extend the several tubular members with respect to each other. A cable 224 secured to a non-rotatable portion of the sheave 200 is provided to retract or telescope the several tubes with respect to each other. 6, the cables 214 and 224 are guided respectively by pulleys 226 and 228 under guide bars carried by a bracket 230 to a cable winding mechanism indicated generally by reference character 232.

Having reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 20, the cable winding mechanism 232 includes a motor 233 operably connected to a speed reduction device 234. A shaft 235 extending from device 234 is joined to a shaft 236 by a coupling 237. Shaft 236 extends concentrically through a cable winding drum 238 having a dividing member 239 in its center so as to provide separate portionsfor the cables of each of the telescopic structures. On its outer end, shaft 236 carries a sprocket 240 over which is trained a chain 241 that also engages and drives a sprocket 242. Connected to sprocket 242 is a shaft 243, which extends concentric to a cable winding drum 244 having a central divider 246 similar in character to divider 239 so as to provide two winding areas on drum 244. Drum 244 carries a gear 247 over which is trained a chain 248 that connects to and drives a smaller pinion 249 on a shaft 250. Extending from shaft 250 is a flexible cable 251 which performs a control operation that will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 18 and 19.

Having reference to FIGS. 17 and 20, are disclosed the means for controlling the cable winding drums 238, 244. Each of these drums is intended to be driven by both high torque and low torque clutch arrangements when they are alternately winding or unwinding cable. Numerous forms of structure are available for this purpose, but as here disclosed, drum 238 is provided with a clutch arrangement 252 that includes a bifurcated meniher 253 which engagees a multiplicity of frictional elements, not shown, enclosed within an area of larger diameter of the drum 238. The bifucated member 253 is normally held under pressure against the clutch elements by a pneumatic motor 254 operating against a compression spring 255. Spring 255 is of suflicient strength to maintain a low torque on clutch 252 when the pneumatic motor 254 is inoperative. Drum 244, likewise is provided with a clutch 256 including a bifurcated member 257, a pneumatic motor 258 which operates against a spring 259, which similarly has sufiicient power to maintain a low torque on clutch 256 when the pneumatic motor 258 is inoperative. The pneumatic motor 254, 258, are intended to furnish high torque rotation to the drums and are supplied with air under pressure coming from a conduit 269, passing through a pressure regulator 261 to solenoid valves 262 and 263, which through conduits 264 and 265 are connected to each of the motors.

Referring now to FIG. 18 is disclosed in combination with a portion of the apparatus described heretofore, a shoveling machine of a character described and claimed in my prior Patents Re. 24,112, Re. 24,201, and my pending application Ser. No. 448,696, now Patent No. 2,924,- 675. Reference character 272 indicates a platform which is above platform 40, and would normally be located adjacent the rear end of the horizontal I beams 44 disclosed in FIGS. 1-4. Mounted on platform 272 are cable winding drums 274, 276, 278 and 280. Drums 276, 278, are supported concentric to a shaft 282 driven by a chain 284 from a motor 286. The drums 274, 280 are concentric to a shaft 288 driven by a chain 290 from shaft 282. As fully disclosed in my prior patents and pending application, each of the drums is connected to the respective shaft by a form of low torque clutch which provides for continuous rotation of the drum by the shaft, and for pur- As will be seen at the right of FIGS. and

poses of illustration, one form of low torque clutch is here indicated by reference character 292. Each of the drums is also adapted for releasable connection to the respective shafts by a high torque clutch, one form of which is indicated by reference character 294. The drums 274, 278, constitute one pair of cooperating drums, and drums 276, 280, constitute another pair of cooperating drums. A cable 296 is trained over the drums 276, 280, and extends to a sheave 200 at the left side of the car structure 30. This cable supports a shovel 298. A cable 300 is trained over the drums 274, 278, and extends to a sheave 200a at the right side of the car structure, and this cable supports a shovel 302. Having reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, cable 300 is trained over a first pulley 301 supported by member 52, whence the cable is also trained over another pulley'303 as it passes outwardly to the sheave 200a. Likewise, cable 296 is trained over a pulley 297 and another pulley 299 as it passes outwardly to the sheave 200.

Drums 274, 280, constitute pull-forward drums and their action is to draw the respective shovels 298, 302 in the direction of the door opening 36, while drums 276, 278, are pull-back drums and their function is to wind the cable so as to pull the shovels 298, 302, in the direction of the sheaves 200, 20011.

Situated adjacent the drums 274, 280, are a pair of similar control devices 304, each operatively connected to the respective drum by a chain drive 306. One exemplification of the control device 304 is fully illustrated in my prior Patent Re. 24,201 and is further illustrated in FIG. 19.

Referring now to FIG. 19, the control device 304 consists of a casing 305 containing a pair of control switches 308, 310. The switch 308 is adjustably pre-set on a bar 312 and is provided with an actuating portion 314 which extends in the path of movement of a travelling switch actuating member 316 mounted on a lead screw 320. The lead screw 320 is in turn attached to a gear 322 which is driven by chain 306 which is also trained over a portion of the winding drum 280. Switch 310 has an actuating portion 326 which is also in the path of movement of the actuating element 316. Switch 310 is mounted for movement on a threaded rod 328 which is rotatably driven by cable 251, seen in FIG. 20. Secured to lead screw 320 is a pinion 330, which by means of a chain 332 connects to a pinion 334. Supported on the top of casing 305 is a magnetic inertia delay switch 336, which is joined in circuit with switches 308, 310. The magnetic inertia switch 336 is fully described in my prior application 448,696, now Patent No. 2,924,675, and serves as a means of delaying the energization of a circuit to the high torque clutch 294, following the engagement of the actuator 316 with either switch 308 or 310.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a cable 338, extending from a clutch operated winch, not shown, but also located on platform 272, extends over a pair of pulleys 340, 342, to a forward end of the main frame structure forming the device 50, to pull the mechanism 50 into a stowed position. A dog or holding pawl 344 engages the crossbar 64, and a manually operable lever 346 is operably connected to pawl 344 to release the pawl from the mechanism.

Referring now to FIGS. 22, 23, is disclosed a modified means of unloading cars. As here disclosed, the railway car 30 is disposed on tracks 34, extending over a receiving pit 350, covered by a grating 351. A section of tracks 34 is arranged for tilting movement on a pivot 352 under the influence of a pair of jacks 354, 354a, located in pit 350. Also situated in pit 350 is a conventional hopper 356, having a conveyor belt 358 provided to remove the grain from hopper 356.

The general mechanism 50A, disclosed in FIG. 22, is identical with that previously discussed, except that instead of the side members 52, 54, being pivotally sup ported by member 70 midway between the opposite ends, in the manner disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6, the structure g of FIG. 22 is supported by a pair of large triangular plates 36%, on a hanger arrangement similar to that disclosed in FIG. 7, but with a point indicated at 362 in FIG. 22.

Referring now to FIG. 24 is schematically disclosed the electrical control system for operating the apparatus. Reference characters 364, 366, designate leads extending from a source of power. A conductor 368 joins the power leads to a hydraulic pump motor 370', and contains a starting switch 372 and a stopping switch 374. A conductor 376 is joined to lead 368 and contains a starting switch 380 and the operating mechanism 378 of a hydraulic valve to control jacks 76. A two pole limit switch 381 controls lead 376 and the circuit for the remainder of the system. A branch conductor 382 extends from conductor 376 to the operating mechanism 384 of a hydraulic valve to provide fluid to the jacks 354, 354a, on the track tilting mechanism. Conductor 382 contains a starting switch 386 and a control switch 388 that is located in the path of movement of the triangular plates 360 seen in FIG. 22. A conductor 392 extends between the power leads and contains some incandescent lamps designated at 394, and normally located on the front end of mechanism 50 for illuminating the'interior of the car structure after mechanism 50 has reached the horizontal position and before the shoveling operation commences. A conductor 396 contains a horn 3%, or other audible warning means to warn of a dangerous condition. A two pole switch 400 is situated in the power lead 364- and is adapted to energize the horn 398 and also break the remainder of the circuit under certain emergency conditions. Having reference to FIGS. and 16, switch 409 is shown in conjunction with a bifurcated member 402, which is connected between a bar 484 and a bell crank 466 in surrounding relationship to a collar 468 carried by the large threaded drive shaft 162 that propells the movement of carriage 148. Switch 400 is provided to break the circult to the entire control mechanism in the event that the extensible telescopic bars engage an obstruction, or engage the inner side walls of the car structure. In other words, switch 460 is a safety switch to provide for shutting down the system in the event of a dangerous condition in the operation of the machine, and for simultaneously energizing the warning horn 398.

To control the extension of the telescopic bars, a conductor are extends between the power leads and joins motor 233, and contains an armature controlled switch 422. A conductor 414 extends between the power conductors and contains solenoid valve 262 which controls the flow of air to pneumatic motor 254, and this conductor contains an armature controlled switch 4-16. A conductor 41% extends between the power leads and contains a normally open manual switch 426, and a relay 422, whose armature 424- is connected to switches 412 and 416. A conductor 426 extends between the power conductors and contains the operating mechanism of solenoid 263 that controls the flow of air to pneumatic motor 258, and the conductor contains an armature controlled switch 428. An interlock 43% connects switches 432, 434, between conductors 414 and 426 so that both solenoids 262 and 263 may not be simultaneously operated. A conductor 436 extends between the power leads and contains a starting switch 437 and a relay 438 whose armature 4 9 is joined between switches 428 and 412 so as to assure the operation of motor 233 when switch 428 is closed. It will be noted that switch 412 may be closed by'either relay 422 or relay 438. A conductor 442 extends between the power leads and contains a forward directing induction coil 444 for carriage motor 178. This conductor contains a starting switch 446 and a limit switch 448 to break the circuit to carriage motor 178 when the carriage reaches its outermost extremity of movement. For application to the modified form of the invention disclosed in FIG. 22, the limit'switch 448 is interlocked with switch 368 to assure against tilting of the car before the mechanism has been partially lowered to a 10 safe position. A conductor 45% extends between the power leads and contains a reverse directing induction coil 452 for reversing the operation of motor 178, said conductor containing a starting switch 454. An interlockcomposed of relays 456, 4-58, contain switches 46% 462, to prevent conflicting circuits with respect to motor 17$.

For the operation of the shoveling machine disclosed in FIG. 18, a conductor 464 extends between the power I leads and is joined to motor 286 that drives the various cable winding drums of the shoveling machine and said conductor contains a starting switch 466. Joined to conductor 464 is a branch conductor 468 extending to switches 368, 31d, and containing a switch 47% forming a part of the inertia delay switch 336 which is adapted for alternate connection to switches 30%, 310.

The operation of the invention will now be explained. With the car and apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 1, an unloading operation is ready to commence.- T 0 release the apparatus from its stowed condition, the operator releases the pawl 344 by means of the lever 346, whence power isexerted by the cable 338. While cable 338 will normally be operated by a winch motor, not

shown, it is conceivable that the releasing could be manually effected, since the device is fairly well balanced. Then, the hydraulic pump is energized by closing switch 372, and energizing valve 378 by closing switch 386. The hydraulic jacks 76 rotate the-mechanism to the position of FIG. 2, whence the rollers 13% on the bell cranks 132 engage the bulkhead 36, the grab bars 124 are released and drop to the sill of the door opening 36. As pressure from the hydraulic jacks increase, the supporting structure shown in FIG. 7 rises on the tubular supports 4-6 slowly under the control of the hydraulic system disclosed in FIG. 11, and the bulkhead is moved vertically as shown in FIG. 3, allowing the granular material to escape beneath the bulkhead. When the mechanism reaches the upper limiting stops shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, and with continued pressure from the hydraulic jack 76, the bulkhead is moved inwardly against the remainder of the mass of granular material until the bulkhead is above the pile where it is held. When the jacks 76 are fully extended to the position shown in FIG. 4, the limit switch 381 is actuated cutting off the flow of hydraulic fluid to jacks '76 and energizing the remainder of the circut, including lamps 394. During the active movement of the jacks 76, the cross-member 86 seen in FIG. 7 will have ridden upwardly to the upper limiting rings 82, but thereafter, the retarding valve 114 operates to permit the structure to drop to the lower limiting rings 84 and assume the position shown in FIG. 4.

The telescoping bars 122, 184, are now in the positions shown in H65. 5 and 6, and the cables 164 would be supporting the shovels 296, 362, beneath the mechanism. The first operation is to extend the central bars 198 carrying the sheaves 2%, 206a, and to accomplish this, the operator closes switch 426 energizing relay 422 and switches 412, 416, whence the detelescoping or extension of the bars commences and continues as long as the operator maintains switch 421) manually closed. The closing of switch 412 energizes motor 253, causing power to be applied to shaft 236, producing rotation of drums 238, 244. The energization of solenoid 262 cuts oil the supply of air to pneumatic motor 254, whence clutch 253 is released from its high torque, but maintains sutficient low torque to prevent backlash in the retracting cable 224.

Drum 244, being on high torque, commences to Wind 7 the cable 214 thereon causing an extension of the bars. This operation is under manual supervision, and is usual- 1y 'of an intermittent nature. Releasing of switch 420 by the operator stops the operation of motor 233, whence the clutch 253 becomes re-engaged and acts as a brake to prevent telescoping or retracting of the bars under the influence of the moving shovels.

The operation of the shoveling machine'is associated with the operation of the extensible bars, and is initiated by closing switch 466, energizing motor 286 and the circuit that includes the control switches 308, 310, and the delay switch 336.. Since the details of the operation of this portion of the apparatus has been fully covered in my prior patents, it will suffice to state a continuously operating low torque transmission on each of the drums acts to prevent slack or backlash on the cables as they are Wound from the drums, the rewinding occurring when the high torque transmission is effective. The high torque transmissions are alternately rendered ineffective when switches 3G8, 310, are alternately engaged by the actuator 316 that travels back and forth between these switches. The inertia switch 336 (schematically designated 47%) coacts with switches 368, 310, to provide a slight delay before the circuit, including the alternate switch, is energized. It will be noted that switch 310 is a travelling switch and its movement relative to switch 368 is controlled by cable 251, which in turn is driven by the movement of drum 244. Hence, as the telescoping bars are extended, switch 319 is moved away from switch 3%, and the reciprocal strokes of the shovels are correspondingly increased.

Considering next the travelling carriage 148, this is advanced by closing switch 446 to energize the forward coil of motor 178 that drives the threaded rod 162 and provides advancement of the carriage by the travelling nut 170. When the carriage 14-8 has reached its maximum extent of travel, it engages the limit switch 448 to break the circuit to motor 178, and perform an additional function in connection with apparatus 50A, disclosed in FIG. 22, which will be discussed hereinafter. As the carriage is advanced, the telescoping bars are rotated on their bearings 188, 190, and commence their angular extension into the interior of the car. Both the extension of the carriage, and the extension of the telescoping bars is always under manual control of the operator, and their operation is intermittent. Having reference to FIG. 21, ise diagrammatically disclosed the paths of movement of the tail sheave, and the maximum and minimum adjustment of the outer ends of the bars. Curve 472 indicates the maximum path of the tail sheave, curve 474 indicates the maximum path of the shovel, curve 476 indicates the minimum adjusted length of the outer end of the telescoping bar, and curve 478 indicates the minimum path of the sheave when the carriage is fully advanced into the car. The shovel Will start operating along the path indicated at the right hand side of FIG. 21, and will gradually advance until it has reached a path which is parallel to the side of the car.

When the extensible bars have reached their maximum positions of extension within the car, the major portion of the contents will have been removed by the shovels, and the bars are retracted through the closing of switches 437 and 454. The closing of switch 437 energizes motor 233and solenoid 263, the latter producing a de-energization of pnuematic motor 258, placing drum 244 on low torque with drum 238 on high torque to produce an orderly winding of cable 224 on drum 238. The closing of switch 454 reverses motor 178 to cause the carriage to be retracted within its frame.

The safety switch 400 is an emergency switch which will be moved from its position in conductor 354 to conductor 3% in the event that the telescoping bars engage an object, such as the side of the car where considerable damage might be caused, and therefore, if this should occur, the reaction would be transmitted through the threaded shaft 162 to switch 400, whence the entire circuit, except for the lamp 394, would be de-energized until the dangerous condition was rectified.

Referring now to the structure shown in FIG. 22, the

operation would be similar to that described heretofore, except for the final clean-up operation. In the prior disclosure, the final clean-up of the car involves a manual operation described in my prior Patent Re. 24,122. In this disclosure, the final clean-up is accomplished by tilting the car, and this is performed when the extensible bars are at a angle to the carriage and the carriage has reached its limit of travel and has engaged switch 448. Switch 448 is tied with switch 388 to the extent that the latter, which is actuated by the swinging movement of the large plates 36%), must be closed before the jacks 354 are effective to tilt the track and car. It will be evident, therefore, that jacks 76 must be partially retracted so as to prevent tilting the car While the mechanism 50A is in a horizontal position, which would result in a collision with the roof of the car. After the car is tilted, the shoveling operation is resumed to remove the residual aggregate at the lower side of the car.

When the contents of the car have been removed, the carriage and bars are retracted, the hydraulic fluid is vented from jacks 76 and the pit jacks 354, 354a, and mechanism 59 is placed in a stowed position by the use of the stowing winch 338 until the front end of the mechanism can be locked by pawl 344.

One of the advantages of the invention resides in the provision of apparatus for quickly and easily unloading freight cars containing grain or similar aggregates and at containers other than railway freight cars where it is practical to advance the bars to the walls of the container and thereafter move them along and about the walls of the container. The apparatus may be used for unloading aggregates from tanks, mine corridors and the like.

Another advantage resides in the combining of the control of the extensible bars with the control of the extension of the stroke of a shoveling machine so that as the bars are extended, the stroke of the shoveling machine may be correspondingly extended so as to be able to remove aggregates from a relatively large container without the necessity of personnel entering the container to engage in any operation relating to the removal of the aggregates.

Another and very important advantage resides in the provision of the removal of material from freight cars and the like, which combines the steps of removing the bulkhead, removing the major portion of the material, followed by tilting the car so as to completely remove any residual portions of the material. This operation makes it possible to empty four or more carloads of material per hour, which will result in faster disposition of freight cars, which are always in great demand, particularly during the harvest season, and will avoid the necessity of demurrage payments that have often resulted when large shipments of cars are brought into terminal elevator facilities.

A further advantage resides in the use of this type of apparatus for the handling of other aggregates such as dry chemicals that may be toxic or at least difficult to handle.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the invention are possible, and therefore, the drawings and description are merely illustrative of one or more forms of the invention, and therefore, the invention is not limited except by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for unloading aggregate from the interior of a transport body formed with a normal door opening in one side thereof which is closed by a temporary bulkhead, comprising a vertical supporting member positioned adjacent the opening in said body, a generally rectangular frame formed with bulkhead engaging means adjacent one end thereof mounted on said supporting member for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis, a driving member connected to said frame for rotatably moving said frame against the bulkhead and projecting the latter upwardly 13 Within the interior of said body, a travelling member supported Within the interior of said frame for movement relative to the bulkhead engaging portion thereof, and a telescopic extensible bar normally carried within the interior of the frame with one end pivotally secured to said travelling member and the other end supported for sliding pivotal movement on one side of the frame adjacent the bulkhead engaging portion for sliding pivotal movement within the interior of the body and relative to said frame.

2. A device for unloading aggregate from the interior of a transport body formed with a normal door opening in the side thereof, comprising a generally rectangular frame, means supporting said frame for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis, means operatively connected to said frame to project one end into the opening of said body and adjacent the upper limits thereof, a driven member supported within the interior of said frame for movement within the limits of said frame relative to the outer end thereof, a telescopically extensible bar angularly disposed within the interior of said frame with one end pivotally connected to said driven member and the other end supported for sliding pivotal movement on one side of the frame adjacent the forward end thereof to project arcuately within the interior of the body when said driven member is moved in the direction of the front end of the frame, and means carried by said frame and operatively con nected to said bar to extend and telescopically retract said bar.

3. A device for unloading aggregate from the interior of a transport body formed with a normal door opening in the side thereof, comprising a generally rectangular frame, means operably connected to said frame for supporting and rotating the same on a horizontal axis to project one end of said frame into the interior of said body adjacent the upper portion of the opening therein, a travelling member supported within the interior of said frame for movement within the limits of said frame relative to the front end thereof, a pair of telescopically extensible bars angularly nested within the interior of said frame with one end of each of said bars pivotally connected to said travelling member, and the opposite ends of said bars disposed for sliding pivotal movement on the opposite lateral sides of said frame adjacent the forward end thereof to project arcuately within the interior of said body when said travelling member is moved in the direction of the front end of said frame, andmeans carried by said frame and operatively connected to each of said bars for extending and telescopically retracting said bars.

4. Apparatus for unloading aggregate material from,

the interior of a transport body formed with a normal opening in a vertical surface of said body, comprising a supporting member formed with a front end adapted to project into said opening adjacent the upper limits thereof, a driving member carried by said supporting member and movable relative to the front end of said supporting member, a telescopically extensible bar connected to said driving member and pivotally journaled on said supporting member adjacent the front end of said member to project into the interior of the body and then rotate arcuately within said body under the influence of said driving member, an aggregate transfer means supported on the front end of said bar adapted to progressively transfer the material in said body through said opening therein, a second driving member operably connected to said body for tilting said body in the direction of said opening, a circuit including said first and second driving members, and control means in said circuit operably connected to said second driving member and rendered effective When said extensible 'bar has been pivotally rotated through the arc of a substantial angle relative to said supporting member.

5. A device for unloading aggregate from the interior of a transport body formed with a normal door opening in one side thereof,*comprising a vertical supporting member Positional j cent the opening in said body, a linear member mounted n said supporting member for pivotal movement on a horizontal xis, a driving member connected to said linear membe on a id of th ivotal connection adjacent the body opening and effective to project one end of said linear member into a lower portion of the body opening and thence move said end of said linear member upwardly within said body t adjacent the upper limits of said opening, a second driving member carried by said linear member for movementrelative to the longitudinal limits of said member, atelescopie bar extending generally parallel to said linear member and operably connected at one end to said second-driving member and supported for pivotal movement 'onfisaid linear member to project arcuately Within said bod y when said second driving member is moved relative to said linear member, a cable system operably connected to said telescopic bar, and cable winding means co-acting with said second driving member and said cable system and effective to extend and retract said telescopic bar when said bar is moved relative to said linear member, and to maintain a constant force on said telescopic bar when the latter is in an extended position.

6. A device for unloading aggregate from the interior of a transport body formed with a normal door opening in one side thereof, comprising a vertical supporting member positioned adjacent the opening in said body, a generally rectangular frame pivotally mounted on said supporting member for rotation on a horizontal axis, a first driving member connected to said frame on a side of the pivotal connection adjacent the body opening and effective to project one end of said frame into a lower portion of the body opening and thence upwardly within said body to adjacent the upper limits of said opening, a second driving member carried by said frame for movement in a longitudinal direction of said frame, a pair of telescopic bars extending generally parallel to the longitudinal dimension of said frame and each operably connected at one end to said second driving member and each supported adjacent its other end on said frame for pivotal movement thereon to project arcuately within said body when said second driving member is moved relative to said frame, means co-acting with said telescopic bars and said second driving member to extend and retract said bars when the latter are moved relative to the frame, an aggregate transfer means journaled on the front end of each of said bars adapted to transfer the material in said body from adjacent the front end of each bar through the opening in said body, and control means co-acting with said last named means to progressively advance said aggregate transfer means when said bars are advanced within the interior of said body.

7. An aggregate transfer device, comprising a generally rectangular frame, means supporting said frame in a generally horizontal position, a traveling member supported within the interior of said frame for longitudinal movement within said frame, a pair of telescopically extensible bars angularly nested within the limits of said frame with one end of each of said bars pivotally connected to said traveling member, and the opposite ends of each of said bars respectively disposed for sliding pivotal movement on the opposite lateral sides of said frame adjacent said end thereof to project arcuately relative to said end of the frame when said traveling member is moved in the direction of said end of the frame, cable winding means coacting with said bars and said traveling member to telescopically actuate said bars relative to the frame, an aggregate transfer means journaled on the front end of each of said bars adapted to transfer material from adjacent the front end of each of said bars relative to said frame, and control means coacting with said cable winding means and said aggregate transfer means to progressively advance said aggregate transfer means when said bars are extended relative to said frame.

8. An aggregate transfer device, l" 181118 a gener y rectangular frame, means supporting stud frame in a generally horizontal position, a traveling memben supported within the interior of saidframe for longitudinal movement within said f ame, a pair of extensible members each.

composed of a multiplicity of concentric telescoping bars j fl nested ithin the limits of said frame with one end of each f id members pivotally connected to said and the opposite end of each of said vely disposed for sliding pivotal moveosite lateral sides of said frame adjacent Meet to project .arcuately relative to said end B when said traveling member is moved in the 3 of said end of the frame, means operatively ctcd to each of said extensible members and effecto produce extension of said bars relative to each other, cable means connected to one bar of each of said tensible members, cable winding means operatively connected to said cable means and effective to produce telescoping retraction between the bars of each of said extensible members, and an aggregate transfer means journaled on the front end of each of said extensible members to transfer material from adjacent the front end of each of said extensible members relative to said frame.

9. A device for unloading aggregate from the interior of a transport body formed with a normal door opening in one side thereof which is closed by a temporary bulkhead, comprising a supporting member positioned adjacent the opening in said body, a generally rectangular frame formed with bulkhead engaging means adjacent one end thereof mounted on said supporting member for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis, a driving member connected to said frame for rotatably moving said frame against the bulkhead and projecting the latter upwardly within the interior of said body, a traveling member supported within the interior of said frame for movement relative to the bulkhead engaging portion thereof, a pair of telescopically extensible bars angularly nested within the limits of said frame with one end of each of said bars pivotally connected to said traveling member, and the opposite ends of said bars respectively disposed for sliding pivotal movement on the opposite lateral sides of said frame adjacent the bulkhead engaging portion thereof to project into the interior of the body and then rotate arcuately within said body when the traveling member 16 is moved in the direction of the bulkhead engaging portion, an aggregate transfer means supported on the front end of each of said extensible bars adapted to progressively transfer the material in said body through said opening therein.

10. A material transfer device, comprising an extensible boom composed of a multiplicity of telescoping bars, a cable journaled on the front end of said boom, a material transfer member operatively connected to said cable, driving means operatively connected to said bars to extend the outer end of said boom, cable winding means operatively connected to said cable and adapted to produce reciprocal movement of said material transfer member longitudinally to said boom, control means comprising a pair of relatively movable members for controlling the operation of said cable winding means, and a driven connection extending between said boom driving means and one of said movable members and actuated by the movement of said boom driving means to regulate the length of reciprocal movement of said cable and said material transfer member relative to said boom' and in ratio to the extension and retraction of the outer end of said boom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 71,552 Thompson Nov. 26, 1867 366,033 Scully July 5, 1887 722,552 Anderson Mar. 10, 1903 1,197,164 Wallace Sept. 5, 1916 1,201,006 Wallace Oct. 10, 1916 1,229,507 Parker June 12, 1917 1,440,400 Manierre Jan. 2, 1923 1,443,240 Pratt Jan. 23, 1923 1,626,984 Sundberg May 3, 1927 1,767,768 McLauthlin June 24, 1930 2,121,078 Elmes June 21, 1938 2,305,381 Frauenheim Dec. 15, 1942 2,620,161 Royer Dec. 2, 1952 2,646,965 Addicks July 28, 1953 2,649,189 Schmidt Aug. 18, 1953 2,671,638 Allen Mar. 9, 1954 2,797,000 Winter June 25, 1957 2,819,803 Obenchain Jan. 14, 1958 

1. A DEVICE FOR UNLOADING AGGREGATE FROM THE INTERIOR OF A TRANSPORT BODY FORMED WITH A NORMAL DOOR OPENING IN ONE SIDE THEREOF WHICH IS CLOSED BY A TEMPORARY BULKHEAD, COMPRISING A VERTICAL SUPPORTING MEMBER POSITIONED ADJACENT THE OPENING IN SAID BODY, A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME FORMED WITH BULKHEAD ENGAGING MEANS ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS, A DRIVING MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME FOR ROTATABLY MOVING SAID FRAME AGAINST THE BULKHEAD AND PROJECTING THE LATTER UPWARDLY WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY, A TRAVELLING MEMBER SUPPORTED WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE BULKHEAD ENGAGING PORTION THEREOF, AND A TELESCOPIC EXTENSIBLE BAR NORMALLY CARRIED WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE FRAME WITH ONE END PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID TRAVELLING MEMBER AND THE OTHER END SUPPORTED FOR SLIDING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON ONE SIDE OF THE FRAME ADJACENT THE BULKHEAD ENGAGING PORTION FOR SLIDING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE BODY AND RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME. 